DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: The company I have worked for since my senior year in college was taken over by their biggest competitor. We were always a small, local operation, but we are now part of a huge corporation with offices in something like 28 states.

The look for the office used to be casual, but neat. Now it’s suits and ties for the guys, and business chic for the women. Nobody got a raise after the takeover, but we are all expected to spend a bundle on higher-end clothing. I don’t know where I am going to get the money to re-wardrobe myself, and most of my coworkers are in the same spot.

I have been shopping on-line a lot and I’m finding what looks like a bargain can be a big disappointment, and often no bargain at all. Any and all suggestions are welcome for how to dress for less. --- NEED A SHARPER IMAGE

DEAR NEED A SHARPER IMAGE: Thrift and consignment shops are a good place to start, especially if they’re located in areas where you’re likely to get donations of still in-style and well-made items. Yelp and other on-line rating sites can help point you in the right direction if you trust the reviews posted on them.

There are also on-line rental companies for men’s and women’s clothing that provide outfits for special occasions like big meetings or presentations. You might not want to subscribe for the long-haul, but a rental here and there may not be a bad way to go, since you’re not currently in a position to lay out a lot of money all at once.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I honestly don’t care what people do as far as recreational drugs are concerned, provided it doesn’t happen on the job, which is what is going on in my office. So far, I’ve walked in on two different people doing lines in the men’s room.

I don’t know what they’re snorting, and I don’t really care. I just don’t want to happen to be in the bathroom if they get busted by someone else in the office. These guys don’t even bother to lock the door and figure they won’t get caught because the boss is a woman and is usually out of town on travel.

I don’t intend to tell the boss what’s going on, but should I just ignore what I see? --- TO KEEP IT TO MYSELF OR NOT

DEAR TO KEEP IT TO MYSELF OR NOT: Your coworkers’ drug use could put everyone in the office in legal jeopardy, so you need to make your concerns clear to them, not that it may make any difference.

You might find you’re more persuasive if you’re not the only one to approach them. Since it doesn’t sound as if these guys are at all careful about their in-house extracurricular activities, it’s unlikely you’re the only one to know about and be upset by what goes on in the men’s room.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Before we even got married, my husband and I decided that if we were blessed with children, I would stay home, at least until they were all in school. Now that our youngest is finishing first grade, I feel like I should be making some money, but daycare in our area is crazy expensive, and with four kids needing after-school care and fulltime summer camps, I would have to be making more money than my current skillset would probably earn me, especially after being out of the workforce for 8 years. My husband tells me not to worry, but I do. We need to start saving for college, and while we make enough to cover all our bills and take a nice vacation every couple years, it isn’t enough to put anyone through college.

I guess I just want someone to tell me it’s okay to still be home and not making money, even though the kids are in school all day. --- SAHM IN LIMBO

DEAR SAHM IN LIMBO: Even when the kids are in school all day, there is still plenty to be done around the house and in your community. Volunteering, finding a part-time job that meshes with the kids’ school schedule ─ like substitute teaching, temping, or working in a local business that may be looking for seasonal help ─ are options you could explore.

You could also take the time to brush up on your already existing skills and learn a few new ones by taking classes in fields of interest to you. Investigate free or inexpensive offerings through community colleges and job placement services to keep costs down.

None of these options are likely to fully fund four four-year college educations, but finding something to keep you engaged and contributing financially might lessen your guilt.